• A well is a system used to draw water up from an underground water source. Usually, a hole is drilled into saturated soil or rock, with a pipe inserted to draw water to the surface.
• Therefore, water could not flow down the outside of the pitless adapter and come out behind the gasket against the well casing. Either my well casing is cracked or age deterioration of the gasket has resulted in the new leak behind the gasket against the well casing. Either case is not good. I'm only trying to survive here for 6 more months.

1. Symptoms Of A Cracked Well Casing Repair
2. Symptoms Of A Cracked Well Casing Pictures

• POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about how to detect, find, and repair leaks in water well piping

Two Signs Your Water Well Is In Trouble Two signs your well is having problems is when your well is pumping air and/or your electrical utility bill has recently increased dramatically, indicating your well pump is running constantly. The typical modern residential well can produce many years of excellent water with a minimum of servicing.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Diagnose well pipe leaks:

This article describes diagnosing and repairing leaks that can occur in building water piping between a private well and the building water equipment.

We also discuss the diagnosis and repair of leaky water well casings themselves. Knowing just what kind of leak is occurring in a building helps pinpoint the problem and also helps specify the necessary plumbing repair.

We provide a simple guide to the types of leaks that occur in water pipes, drain pipes, & plumbing fixtures. Causes of well piping leaks. Causes of well casing leaks. The Old House Repair 'Spaghetti Problem' - where do we stop? What Causes Leaks in Buried Well Water Piping? Characteristics, diagnosis, & repair of well casing leaks.

The articles at this website will answer most questions about diagnosing and repairing pumps, wells, water supply systems, and building piping. Our page top photo shows water around a plastic water line that had a buried but leaky fitting. The repair was simple, but the excavation to find the leak was a bit more trouble.

We also provide a MASTER INDEX to this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.

Well Piping Leaks - How a Hidden Water Leak Causes Various Problems

Well piping leaks vs well casing leaks: Here we discuss diagnosing and repairing leaks in the well piping that extends from the well bottom foot valve or pump in to the building where it is typically connected to a pressure tank, pump controls, and the building water supply piping.

For well casing leaks (leaks in the large diameter steel pipe or casing that lines the well bore)
see WELL CASING LEAK REPAIRS

Water will leak out of a well pipe at a bad connection, perforation, or cracked pipe when the well pump is running, particularly if the water system uses a submersible pump that is located in the well itself.

If you have this problem you may find a wet spot in the ground near the well piping, provided that the pipe is close enough to the surface.

You will also notice that the well pump is running more often than normal, and that your 'apparent' water usage may have increased.

Some people even report finding a 'water fountain' or geyser in the lawn at a burst water supply pipe from both private wells and from a municipal water main.

Article Contents

• WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS

Signs of Well Pipe Leaks: Air Discharge at Plumbing Fixtures or Intermittent Pump Cycling May Indicate A Well Piping Leak

Air may leak into a well water pipe at a bad connection, perforation, or other damage when the well pump stops running, particularly if the leak problem is combined with a defective check valve or foot valve in the piping system.

The result may be air discharged from plumbing fixtures, improper air charge in the water pressure tank, or loss of pump prime. Short cycling of the water pump or loss of pump prime may result as well.
See AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES

The corroded galvanized iron well pipe shown at above left is discussed in more detail
at INTERMITTENT CYCLING WATER PUMPS.

Photo by DJF & Rasmussen Well Drilling, Inc.

This water pressure diagnosis problem discussion below gives some added details, thanks to reader Dan Babb.

Question - Excessive Well Water Use:

My house was built in 1979, but the well was re drilled to 142 feet in 1986 by the previous owner. The copper pipes were replaced with pvc and a peroxide treatment system was installed due to the sulphur content. I purchased the property in 1997 and the last two years have been a journey.

I've replaced the well pump, pressure tank, pressure switch, chemical feeder pump, repacked the sand and charcoal filters. Currently, I'm using twice the amount of chemicals to treat the water then a year ago. If i'm using twice the amount of water that would be acceptable. I have now flow meter for proof, but that can't be.

Culligan has been out three times to confirm the feeder and filters are functioning correctly. I have not found any leaks, but have noticed an incredible increase of air within the system if it has been idle. There is no check valve on the system near the pressure tank.

Would a failing check valve in the well cause this issue? Should I install a check valve prior to the pressure tank? If i installed a flow meter, where should it be located?

Answer: Quick Tips on Diagnosing High Water Use, Pump Short Cycling, Air in Water Lines

Air in the system could be a piping leak - including between the well and the building - or the well running dry. Or a bad foot valve if the pump is in the building not in the well and a foot valve is all you've got in the well. That'd also show up as lost prime.

If you see the water pressure dropping after the pump has shut off and if you are sure no water is running in the building, then there is either a leak in the well piping or a bad foot valve. If the pressure does not drop, a check valve won't fix anything.

If the pressure is dropping, try a check valve as you suggest - if nothing else, it'd be diagnostic.

Watch out: As the feedback discussion below exemplifies, the second you start touching old plumbing in a building you may find out that there are multiple problems. We call this the spaghetti problem: you can't pull just one strand of spaghetti out of the colander once it has all stuck together. That's characteristic of performing repair work on an older home.

Feedback on What Happened with Diagnosing a Well Problem: Multiple Water Supply Problems at One Shot

My system is now fixed. It was a combination of issues, but your diagnostics was correct. The air was a result of a leaking line at the well casing. After receiving your email, I looked over all the lines in the house.

No leaks could be found, but I could hear the well pump kicking on and off. I began to monitor the pressure gauge at the pressure tank. The well would pump up to 50 psi and shut-off, then the pressure would slowly drop. I could hear water moving in the lines, but no faucets were on.

I shut the gate valve upstream from the pressure tank and pressure continued to drop. I noticed sweating on the pressure tank.

I turned off the pressure switch, closed a gate valve and opened the drain valve. The pressure tank drained very little water, but released the pressure. Seeing sweat half way up, I shook the tank and to confirm water was inside. The bladder had ruptured. I replaced the pressure tank, tee, and fittings and included a check valve downstream of the pressure tank.

I put the system back on-line. Air was still in the lines, so I decided to water the lawn , flowers and garden hoping to remove any trapped air from the system. It seemed to work.

Then I noticed the flowers around the well casing weren't suffering from the heat. Taking a closer look there were puddles. I began touching the ground and it was saturated. I called my well driller and he came out and confirmed the water was leaking outside the casing.

He dug around the casing to reveal two pin holes in the 1' HDPE pipe. We spliced a two foot section and tested the system.

The well line is all fixed. I asked the plumber to look at my connections at the pressure tank. We added an air release valve and increased the pressure switch settings. I am very happy with the results.

My day wasn't over though. I noticed water on the garage floor by one of my two 82 gallon holding tanks. There was a rusty look to the water. I tilted the tank and sure enough there were three streams coming from the bottom of the tank.

It may have been slightly leaking before, but the increased pressure possibly made it worse. I called Culligan and they no longer install galvanized steel tanks on sulphur systems.

Fiberglass tanks are now available for $460. I'm currently testing my system on one tank and shopping around for best prices on fiberglass tanks.

Steps in Finding the Point of Leakage in Well Piping

Reader Question: how can I confirm that there is a leak in my well piping & how can I find where the leak is located?

(July 2, 2015) Anonymous said:
how can i check and see if i have a hole in my line before i pull the pump

26 July 2015 Anon-2 said:

How can I find where the leak is located between the house and the well?

Reply:

Anon:

If you shut off water into the building and water pressure falls at the pressure tank and well piping system then there may be a hole in well piping or a leaky foot valve or bad check valve at the pump.

Anon-2:

Turn off water on the house side of your well pump and pressure tank. Watch the water pressure gauge - presuming the gauge is on the well-side of the water valve you closed. If over a few minutes to a few hours you see the water pressure fall then it's a good guess that the leak is between the valve you closed and the bottom of water piping in the well.

Unfortunately the leak can be anywhere in that entire route.

Before launching a massive digging campaign, well service company or plumber may at this point look for

• A wet area developing anywhere along the route of the well piping often is a telltale for a leaky well pipe.
• A leaky foot valve or check valve at the well piping bottom or anywhere in the well piping system. Another symptom of a leaky foot valve is loss of well prime or occasional cycling on of the well pump when no water is being run.
• A leak at the pitless adapter where the well piping leaves the well casing
• A leak in the vertical well piping riser inside the well, a condition that might be detected by opening the well cap and observing or hearing water squirting or splashing when the pump is running

If none of these first steps find the well leak then there are a couple of options:

• Some well piping, depending on diameter, routing, location, can be inspected by insertion of an inspection camera.
• An excavator may begin at a most-suspect location (rocky soils, wet areas, areas where pipes are shallow or exposed to freezing, known lengths of older or metal well piping) and excavate along the well line until she or he sees water running into the excavation trench. At that point the leak is nearby.
• In some piping installations it may be possible to narrow down the range of piping where a leak is occurring using a mechanics' stethoscope.

What Causes Leaks in Buried Well Water Piping?

A variety of installation errors can cause a later leak in plastic well piping. We list some of these below, starting with an updat/plumbing/Well_Pipe_Leaks.phpPipe_Leaks.htm'>WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS from reader Dan Babb.

While the comments below describe the cause of a leak in plastic well piping, the same conditions can cause a leak in buried municipal water supply piping between the building and the street. As Carson Dunlop's Home Reference Book points out,

Poor water pressure in the house may be the result of a partially closed or obstructed valve in the street. It may also be because of blockage, such as a stone or other foreign body in the pipe. New piping may be crimped during installation or become pinched under a rock during back-filling operations. This can also cause low water pressure.

If your building is served by municipal water, not a private well,

Symptoms Of A Cracked Well Casing Repair

see PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES

and WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR

and PIPING in BUILDINGS, CLOGS, LEAKS, TYPES.

Causes of Damage, Leaks, or Crimps in Buried Plastic or Metal Well Water Piping

Illustration: a rubber torquer arrestor for use on well piping to control twist or torque damage to well piping and wiring in well casings.

[Click to enlarge any image]

• Plastic well (or water main) piping damage during installation: What caused the well piping leak that we describe above? My soil is 18'-24' black topsoil, then sandy, silty clay soil. No rocks or sharp objects were found. We were careful digging around the line. We checked about 10 foot of line, but only found leaks near the fitting at the casing.
  After removing the leaking section, I cleaned it up for further investigation. It appears to me the pinholes were a result of careless installation work. The pipe exterior surface had cuts and nicks where the pinholes were. What people may not know is that HDPE pipe needs to be slightly heated to fit over the fitting.
  If it's overheated it could change the integrity of the pipe. The previous installer may have overheated and nicked the pipe with the clamps or a screwdriver. Maybe they didn't know the pipe needed heat and used brute force with pliers or channel locks to slip it over the fitting.
• Overheating plastic piping during joint fitting can chemically change the plastic, making it brittle and crack prone near the connector
• Under heating plastic piping during joint fitting can cause the pipe to crack when it is forced over a fitting or connector
• Under-tightening metal connector parts such as hose clamps often leads to immediate or near-term leaks in the well piping connector.
• Over tightening metal connector parts such as hose clamps can (rarely) crack or crimp a pipe or fittings
• Burying plastic piping with soil containing sharp rocks can lead to later puncture and leaks
• Driving over piping that is not properly bedded in sand or not buried at a safe depth can cause leaks in piping
• Holes in the well pipe from abrasion or mechanical damage: Defective well piping, corrosion of metal piping (see photo near page top), or plastic piping that rubbed on a rock or other obstruction can lead to a hole in the piping that leaks water out when the well pump is running and leaks air into the system when the pump stops.
  The well piping as well as well pump wiring can be abraded and damaged by torquing or twisting of the well pipe inside the well bore or casing at each submersible pump on-off cycle.
  See SUBMERSIBLE PUMP TORQUE PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS for help stopping well pipe twist or torque damage problems.
  For a discussion of piping movement, abrasion, and well pipe torquing causing well pump wiring damage
  see WATER PUMP WIRING REPAIR
  At AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES and
  At WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING CAUSES we discuss the role of a bad check valve or a hole in the well piping in causing well pump short cycling - water and pressure are lost through the leak when the pump runs, and air may enter the piping when the pump stops - depending on where the leak is located.

  Leaks in 'hidden' air volume controls located on well piping on certain submersible pump systems using a bladderless water pressure tank are discussed
  at AIR VOLUME CONTROLS, WATER TANK.

• Pitless adapter leaks due to gasket wear or fitting leaks -
  See PITLESS ADAPTERS


• Foot Valve Leaks - check
  See FOOT VALVES, WELL PIPING


• CONTACT us to suggest other leak causes in plastic or metal well piping

Inspect your connections carefully with the well piping under full pressure before burying the water piping.

Also see WATER SUPPLY/DRAIN PIPE LEAK TYPES

and see THAWING FROZEN PIPES which addresses how to find frozen and burst pipe leaks in buildings, and

see REPAIRING BURST LEAKY WATER PIPES

If the water supply piping inside your building is also plastic,

see PLASTIC PIPING ABS CPVC PB PEX PVC.

If your building is served by municipal water, not a private well, see

• PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES and
• MUNICIPAL WATER PRESSURE DIAGNOSIS and
• PIPING in BUILDINGS, CLOGS, LEAKS, TYPES.

At WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE we note that a possible explanation for loss of building water pressure, or loss of well pump prime can be air leaking into a well piping line, as well as water leaking out of the well pipe.

Reader Q&A - also see the FAQs series linked-to below

On 2020-11-10 by (mod) - when to turn on the pump if we got no water after a leak is fixed.

Bobbi,

Once a pipe leak is fixed in the building you can turn on the well pump.

But if hte leak was in the well piping AND if the pump was a jet pump you need to re-prime the pump.

If that's your situation

see WATER PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE
Watch out: if you turn on the pump and no water is delivered, turn it back OFF right away. If you run a pump dry you can damage it.
in the article index take a look at the article

titled WATER PUMP WON'T START
Or see the diagnostic steps

at NO WATER PRESSURE

On 2020-11-10 by Bobbi

When to turn on water if pump isn't engaging after leak is fixed?

On 2020-10-04 - by (mod) -

Chastity
We don't know if this is an illegal discharge of bathroom graywater or a legal discharge from a sump pump
Even if it's from a sump pump that's part of a basement or crawl space de-watering system, it's a foolish thing to dump water right by the foundation wall as it simply wants to come right back into the building.

On 2020-10-04 by Chasity Maudlin

My neighbor has a pipe that sticks out the side of the wall outside that is pouring water out of it. No water is on inside of the house and the well isn’t even running. The bathroom is behind the outside wall

On 2020-09-02 - by (mod) - cost to dig up a pipe

Diana
Plumbing and well piping service costs vary significantly depending on where you live, ease of access to the site, and what equipment is necessary.

Hand digging a small 18in deep hole to fix a simple elbow in a pipe could be as little as a few hundred dollars.

Bringing in a backhoe even for just a few hours can be ten times that amount.

On 2020-09-01 by diana wilson

cost to dig up the elbow joint of a well 18: down and replace same.

On 2020-08-14 - by (mod) - leak at plastic piping at water tank

Pete
That looks like a small diameter plastic tube that must be feeding water to something: perhaps a water purification device or a disinfectant injection system

- follow the plastic tubing to see where it goes;
To replace parts you'd simply turn off water, remove water pressure from the system, and take the old parts to your local plumbing supplier.

Watch out: hand tighten those parts only - using a heavy wrench or pliers can crack a part and lead to a big leak.

On 2020-08-12 by Pete Timpson

After I replaced my pressure switch water was dripping out of the hose that is directly below the gauge in the photo. What is that hose called?

On 2020-07-13 - by (mod) - air discharge and water hammering noise caused by a pipe leak?

Anon
Thank you for askinga helpful question.
Yes in some circumstances a leak anywhere in the well piping systems can leak water out when the pump is running and yet it might draw air into the system when the pump is off.

That in turn can result in a subsequent are discharged at fixtures.

See the diagnostics at AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES

and

at WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE

On 2020-07-13 by Anonymous

Can a leak between the house be the cause or contributor of lots of air in the water faucets and a hammering of the pipes. It’s gotten worse.

Also had a new well pump put in two years ago. The old one functioned reliably for over 26 years and had to be replaced because it got hit by lightening.

It seems ever since that new pump has been installed my water supply is just terrible. I called the installer who is now retired and he said he has never had that problem with any of his hundreds over 26 years in that business. My well is 540’ deep drilled and is also mega high in radon and uranium. Sign me worried and feeling lost. Eileen

On 2020-07-08 - by (mod) - seal leaks at abandoned two pipe jet pump well system

Mariah
Thank you for the photo in the interesting abandoned well piping photograph. From your photo it appears to me that we are looking at the two ABS plastic pipes that would have been used for a two line jet pump bringing water from a deep well into the building.

At some point The Pump and Well were abandoned, perhaps if the building changed to Municipal Water Supply.

Someone appears to have simply sawn off the pipes and left their exposed ends.
In that condition, especially in wet weather, if the water level rises sufficiently in your well or if it will becomes temporarily an artesian well, it may send water into the building through the wall, un-asked.
The solution is simple and trivial. You or a plumber would buy the appropriate fittings to cap and seal the two exposed pipe ends, the smaller of which, probably 1 1/2' (measure it) is leaking.
Above we show a NIBCO 1 1/2' ABS DWV piping cap that is an example of a seal that can be glued in place using solvent cement.

Also available in other standard sizes such as 1' and 2' ABS.

Total cost, less than $5.00. for cap and adhesive solvent cement.

Watch out: it is quite apparent that there is water leaking into the building through the smaller-diameter of the two well pipes (arrow #1) , but there may be additional water leakage through the foundation wall at the cutout through which these pipes pass (arrow #2).

Often the ditch dug to lay well pipes forms a natural water-collection conduit that in turn sends water towards the foundation.

You may need to seal the entire opening around the pipes as well as capping the un-used well pipes.

And of course don't forget to check that the roof gutters or surface runoff are not aiming water at the building's foundation.

On 2020-07-08 by Mariah

We just discovered a hole behind the drywall in the basement. There has been water coming in every time it rains.

It appears to be piped to the well that is outside. How can we fix this problem and why would they have this pipe coming into the basement with nothing connected to it?

On 2020-07-01 - by (mod) -

Robynne,
You'll want to give a call to a local plumber, cinfirming that she or he works on well piping and controls.
You may ultimately need an excavator to dig up the well line, but first, confirm that the leak is not in or at the well.

On 2020-07-01 by Robynne

I am in Sandy Oregon I have a leak between my pump house and my home it’s a block at least between the two I have to fill up my water tank and then walk out into the field to turn the pump house off. Enough . Who can come out here to detect the leak with equipment it’s tricky it needs a pro to discover where?

On 2020-03-30 - by (mod) - safety of well pump wiring conduit

KP
I figure that if the underground conduit for electrical wire between pump and house was not needed the electrician wouldn't have installed it in the first place.

So ultimately you want it to be intact and in safe condition.
An alternative that may be less costly would be to simply have a new wire, rated for underground use without conduit, installed between house and well top.

The digging is done with a'ditch-witch' or similar machine-powered trenching tool (shown below) that is quick, low-cost, effective, and causes minimum disruption as it digs a narrow trench of the proper depth in which the wire is laid.

That may be less costly than a lot of exploratory digging up of the yard followed by still more digging to try to replace a leaky or damaged section of conduit.
Illustration: Detail K2 Carbide Alloy 27-Tooth Commercial Trencher that can be bought or rented but is already in the hands of a typical excavation or electrical contractor. K

On 2020-03-30 by KP2020

Thanks very much. Just one more question, it is still worth it to have them come dig up outside right ? They should be able to determine the cause and fix it based on some of the reasons you gave for it suddenly stopping ?

On 2020-03-29 - by (mod) - reasons why the well pump electrical conduit might stop leaking

KP
I can invent reasons why the well pump electrical conduit might stop leaking at the house wall.
- the groundwater source sending water into the conduit may have become reduced as weather changes

- the groundwater may be temporarily frozen

- mud and silt may sometimes infiltrate and clog or slow a water entry point into conduit

On 2020-03-29 by KP2020 - well guy will dig to find leak

Thanks for the info. The well guy didn’t seem to think this was urgent but said they would have to dig up outside to find the source of the leak

It is the top tube that houses the electric wire. I think they will have to come do the dif it sounds like. Do you know why it would suddenly stop leaking ? Again, thanks for your help.

On 2020-03-28 - by (mod) - emergency sealant for leaks at well pipe, conduit, or wall

KP
That photo is a little hard to make-out, but it looks to me as if the upper 'pipe' is conduit carrying an electrical wire. If you can follow the 'wire' leaving that upper pipe to an electrical control, switch, or electrical box you can confirm that.
If that's the case, what we have is a buried electrical conduit that's leaking water into the home (and into the conduit);

If the wire (if it is a wire) run through the conduit isn't rated for buried or underground use (it'd be labeled UF for 'underground feeder' or something similar) then it's particularly dangerous for it to be wet as there's a shock risk.
You could try plugging open pipe end around the wire to stop the drip, but that would not fix the leak into the conduit from somewhere outside. If the wire is safe being wet (right type) and un-damaged (who knows?) that outside repair may be less urgent.
A polyurethane foam (those like water) might work, or
You might even try a marine sealant like the one shown below.

On 2020-03-28 by KP2020

Thanks pls see attached - the top tube is what has had a slow drip for last few weeks - but today is second day with no more drip at all . I have attached image

On 2020-03-28 - by (mod) -

Can you attach some photos? 1 per comment.

On 2020-03-27 by KP2020

Hi I turned on the water to my summer house and noticed a small drip coming from the top tube that links the well from the ground outside into my home and into the water pressure tank. It is not the main water tube it is the one above it that has the electric cord that runs to the pump.

There is a slow drip when the water is on coming from that top tube so I put a bucket underneath it. I called my plumber and he said I should call the well driller that installed the new pump six years ago.

The well driller came out and said there is a leak in the tubing in the ground outside and they would have to come and do a drill into the ground to find a location of the leak.

They want to charge me $1500 just to drill and look for the leak. Then once they determine the cause of the leak they will let me what it would cost to fix it. I am a single female and concerned that sometimes people may take advantage of someone who has no idea about this stuff.

Despite the cost, does this sound Like the right procedure? The dripping has stopped it started getting slower and slower and now has stopped today and it happens to be 60°‘S and I’m wondering if the weather had anything to do with it leak - perhaps some thing was frozen in the ground and now it’s not and therefore it’s not leaking anymore? Thank you so much for your help ?

On 2020-02-18 - by (mod) -

Symptoms Of A Cracked Well Casing Pictures

Ocarr
This article WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING
has a list of diagnostic steps worth checking out; let me know if that helps you or if you have success, or if you have more questions.
Thanks for asking.

On 2020-02-18 by ocarr5600

We replaced our bladder tank because it was leaking bad and kept the well running constantly we had to shut off at breaker. We have replaced with a diaphragm tank now. When we replaced it, the pressure switch would Cut off at 60 and it would cut in at 40. But for some reason it takes a really long time to reach t60. What could be the problem?

On 2019-06-19 by (mod) - sprinkler systems can run so much water that the pump will run continuously.

Steph
It's quite common that sprinkler systems can run so much water that the pump will run continuously.
It's also common for the presence of a 500 gallon water tank - if that's what you mean - to serve as a clue that the actual well flow rate is very poor - perhaps just a gallon a minute or even worse. So if you are running out your water tank the system could run for days trying to re-fill the tank or worse, burn up the pump UNLESS there is a pump protection switch or tailpiece installed.
Before replacing the sprinkler system I'd certainly want a more thorough diagnosis of just what's going on, since we may be confusing two different problems: high water use rate and a low flow water well.

On 2019-05-29 by Steph

Need help hopefully in guiding me to what I must do next - We have a 500 gal well with an above ground pump - There is two on/off valves one for to small homes and the other for a sprinkler system that waters about 2 acres -

The pressure to both homes is at 72 PSI - Then when turn on the valve for the sprinklers it drops to 30 PSI - I can hear the water running through the large steel pipe like it is trying to fill up the tank -

So, I allowed it to run for over an hour yesterday turned it off and walked to locate a super wet area ... No Luck tried again today letting it run for another hour nothing no where - I am at a lost .. Sprinkler company wants to repipe the 2 plus acres for 10 grand I am so frustrated due to this was a rental property for 8 years and this sprinkler system was in great condition and watered with fantastic pressure -

So somewhere along the line they turned it off and never ever communicated there was an issue - We are repairing and a bit of Remodeling to sell then this happens ...

...

Continue reading at FOOT VALVES, WELL PIPING or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS FAQS

Or see

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WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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Technical Reviewers & References

• [1] J.E. Johns, TecWel; D.N. Cary, Seal-Tite International; J.C. Dethlefs, ConocoPhillips; B.C. Ellis, Seal-Tite International; and M.L. McConnell and G.L. Schwartz, ConocoPhillips, ' Locating and Repairing Casing Leaks with Tubing in Place - Ultrasonic Logging and Pressure-Activated Sealant Methods', Society of Petroleum Engineers, Offshore Europe, 4-7 September 2007, Aberdeen, Scotland, U.K., Document 108195 (Conference Paper), 2007
• [2] Link-Pipe, Inc., 27 West Beaver Creek Road - Unit #2Richmond Hill, ONCANADA L4B 1M8, Link-Pipe manufactures 'no-dig' pipe repair products for wells. Tel: 800-265-5696 or email: info@linkpipe.com or website: http://www.linkpipe.com/wells.htm
• [3] Prentice Creel and Ronald J. Crook, Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., ' Injectrol® and PermSeal Sealants Repair Leaks, Restore Integrity to Casings', Halliburton Service Center, 877-263-6071, web search 6/27/12, original source: http://www.halliburton.com/public/cem/contents/Papers_and_Articles/web/I_through_O/InjPerm.pdf [copy on file as Injectrol.pdf]
• [4] Rasmussen Well Drilling, Inc., 1793 Hwy 61, Two Harbors MN. Jeremy Rasmussen provides third generation well drilling and plumbing services on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Photos by DJF. Tel 218-834-3387. Email: rasmussenwell@frontier.com
  Quoting:We serve the north Shore – Lake, Cook, St. Louis, Carlton and Pine counties, including Duluth, Grand Marais, Clouqet, Carlton, Finland, Isabella, Silver Bay, Grand Portage, Saginaw, and everywhere in Northeastern Minnesota.
• [5] New Electric Heat Tapes Help Prevent Fires,' US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) #00936
• [6] Thanks to Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, for assistance in technical review of the 'Critical Defects'section and for the photograph of the deteriorating gray Owens Corning flex duct in a hot attic. Mr. Cramer is a Florida home inspector andhome inspection educator.
• [7] Baker Manufacturing, 133 Enterprise St., Evansville WI, Tel: 800-356-5130, website: www.baker-mfg.com, web search 6/27/12, original source: http://www.baker-mfg.com/domestic_new/domestic_pitless_units
  /PITLESS%20UNITS%20FOR%20FLOWING%20WELLS.pdf
• [8] Michigan Department of Water Environmental Quality Water Bureau (DEQ), Drinking Water & Environmental Health Section, Well Construction Unit, 'Flowing Well Handbook', web search 6/27/12, original source: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-wb-dwehs-wcu-flowwellhandbook_221323_7.pdf [copy on file as Flowing_Well_Book_MI.pdf].
  This is an excellent primer for the construction of flowing artesian wells - Ed.
• [9] W. B. Allen, Flowing Wells in Michigan, 1974 U. S. Geological Survey, Water Information Series Report 2
• [10] ASTM D 5299-92, Standard for Decommissioning of Ground WaterWells, Vadose Zone Monitoring Devices, Boreholes, and Other Devicesfor Environmental Activities, 1993, American Society for TestingMaterials, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
• [11] R. Allen Freeze, & John Cherry, Groundwater, 1979, Prentice Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey


• 'Freezeproof Your House,' Mike McClintock, Rodale's New Shelter, p. 30, October 1985 (approximate date)
• 'How to Winterize Your Pipes,' Mike McClintock, Homeowners How-To Magazine, p. 59-62, Nov-Dec 1979.
• Thanks to reader Dan Babb for discussing well piping leaks, July 2010

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
• ...

• Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional HOME INSPECTION SERVICES and also extensive HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION and home inspection-related PUBLICATIONS. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
  Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material.
  The ILLUSTRATED HOME illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space.
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  Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Technical Reference Guide purchased as a single order. Just enter INSPECTATRG in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space.
  
• The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
  Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
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• Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd
  COMMERCIAL BUILDING INSPECTION COURSES - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
  HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION COURESES (Canada)
  HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION COURSES (USA) including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
  HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION: HOME STUDY COURSES - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
  Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
  
• The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones

The well casing is one of the most important parts of your well; it keeps debris, insects, and sediment out of your water. However, it’s also one of the most commonly replaced parts of a well, so it’s not out of the question that yours may be cracked or damaged (especially if it’s older).

The well casing is the tube that travels from the well above the ground and gives you a direct line to the pump and the well itself. It can become cracked in a variety of ways, including:

• Being struck by lightning during a storm
• Being hit with a car or lawnmower
• Earthquakes and other ground shifting events
• Extreme heat and cold
• Age
• Natural wear and tear

How to Tell If Your Well Casing Is Cracked

If the well casing is cracked above the ground, you’ll most likely be able to see it. Otherwise, cracks below-ground can be letting sediment and other dirt and debris into your water supply. If you find that the water coming out of your faucet is full of sand, dirt, and other particles, it might be time to call a well repair company to inspect your casing.

Repairing a Cracked Well Casing

There are two ways that a well specialist might fix a well casing:

First, for above-ground damage, they may suggest repairing the pipe and extending it upwards so that it’s easier to see and avoid in the future.

The second approach involves placing a liner against the part of the pipe that is damaged. This involves pushing a camera down inside the pipe and inflating a lining to seal to the interior of the casing.

If you are unsure if your well casing is cracked or if you need an estimate on how much it’s going to take to fix your casing, contact Goold Wells & Pumps in Valatie today!